Review by Rebecca Clark | Photos Courtesy of Adam Rosssi
Walking into the Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH, on September 27th for Sleep Token’s SOLD OUT Even in Arcadia tour felt unlike any show I’ve ever attended. Sleep Token’s shows aren’t mere performances; they are rituals, and that atmosphere was evident from the very first step inside. A quiet energy hummed through the air, anticipation making the space feel almost sacred, like stepping into a church for the first time.
Fans milled about, some in cosplay, some trading bracelets or stickers, all united by an unspoken understanding that this night was bigger than just music. Merch lines stretched endlessly, the energy of anticipation never letting up.
For me, this ritual was deeply personal. Sleep Token’s music met me exactly when I needed it most, during one of the hardest times of my life, navigating heartbreak and betrayal. Vessel’s voice and the raw emotion in the lyrics felt like someone finally understood the weight I was carrying.
Their songs became my companion, alchemizing pain into growth. Feeling the energy ripple through the crowd, the night became a shared moment of healing, where vulnerability was embraced and the space felt profoundly sacred.
Even before a note was played, I felt the difference; the air itself seemed charged with possibility, the kind of space where you could let yourself feel, truly feel, and know that everyone around you understood why you can simply appreciate Sleep Token as much as you do.
The night opened with Melbourne, Australia’s Thornhill, who proved they’re more than worthy of the slot. Their sound hit like a mix of Karnivool, Deftones, and 30 Seconds to Mars, with soaring melodies that cracked into gut-punch screams. Their frontman, Jacob Charlton, worked the stage with the same raw energy you’d expect from Brandon Boyd of Incubus, every movement deliberate, every scream pulled from the depths.
They had the crowd jumping by the second song, “Silver Swarm.” Mid-set, Charlton asked the crowd to hold up their lights, filling the room at their request. At one point, the entire band kneeled around their drummer in a powerful moment. Their set also included songs “Under the Knife,” “Tongues,” “Arkangel,” and ended with “Nerv.” Thornhill may be new to some, but they left Cleveland with more fans.
Then came the shift once Thornhill wrapped their set. The arena was instantly filled with the sound of wind as the curtain began to descend, covering the set, a moment that hit a technical snag and left it partially raised. The crowd erupted in cheers as it finally settled into place, signaling the stage was ready for the ritual to begin.
As the opening notes of “Look to Windward” filled the arena, Sleep Token’s logo glowed softly on the curtain, and the space was bathed in dim, atmospheric light. Vessel’s voice rose, haunting and magnetic, drawing everyone in. As the song reached its climax, the curtain finally dropped, revealing Vessel high above the stage, pouring his heart into the anguished cry of “will you halt this eclipse IN MEEEE.”
He then descended, flowing seamlessly through the band’s mesmerizing set and onto the stage. From that moment, the show transcended a typical concert and became a shared, almost spiritual experience.
Sleep Token’s set was a showcase in contrast, playful and devastating, theatrical and deeply human. At various moments, petal-shaped confetti drifted down, a visual motif lifted from the set and Even in Arcadia, that made the arena feel alive and enchanted.
During “The Offering,” Vessel leapt and danced across the stage, the crowd screaming in unison as he bellowed, “take a bite!” before punctuating it with a dramatic, exaggerated chomp, chomp that had everyone roaring.
“Rain” drenched the arena in lasers. “Aqua Regia” elevated into something transcendent with the live saxophone ending, which was a new part of the song on the tour.
The setlist was perfectly curated for the night, with a thoughtful flow that mirrored the arc of their Even in Arcadia album from start to finish. They wove in a strong mix of tracks from across their discography, even reaching back to their 2016 debut EP One with “Thread the Needle.” In “Vore,” Vessel delivered some of his most visceral and powerful screams of the night.
Between songs, interludes carried us deeper into Arcadia with visuals on the screens. I couldn’t catch every detail from my angle, but it added to the immersive feel of the Ritual, like Easter eggs were waiting for those who looked closely.
It’s impossible not to notice how deeply Vessel feels the music when he sings. When the song reaches its emotional peak, he opens his arms and leans into it, as if inviting the energy of the arena to wash over him. With the crowd’s love radiating back and the subtle, moving moments of his bandmates behind him, you can see him fully receiving that energy, letting it move through him, like a sonic immersion reminiscent of a crystal bowl sound bath. It’s what transformative, healing energy in its most powerful form looks like in motion.
Sleep Token’s personalities shine through in subtle, memorable ways. During “The Summoning,” II launched into a killer drum solo while Vessel watched, then walked off with a playful shrug, as if to say II was showing off, revealing a growing sense of humor that adds warmth to the intensity of their performance.
Vessel remains the heart of the band, his voice shifting seamlessly from angelic melodies to gut-wrenching screams, paired with stunning piano work and deeply authentic songwriting. III’s bass drives the band with his own unique flair.
IV’s guitar is intense and meticulous, and his backup screams perfectly mirror Vessel’s ferocity, adding another layer of power to the band’s sound. Together, their musicianship and personalities make every performance dynamic and immersive.
The touring vocalists, known as the Espera, provided ethereal harmonies that amplified the songs’ emotional weight, adding another layer of spiritual depth and flair to the performance.
The apex of the night came in the closing stretch. During “Damocles,” the arena glowed purple and orange as part of the fan-led Projekt Damocles, a stunning moment of unity.
Then, during “Infinite Baths,” signs began appearing throughout the crowd, each one reading: “You are so loved.” Vessel broke, his voice cracking, his cries audible between lines. He tapped a security guard on the shoulder, signaling him to hand over one of the signs, lifted it high, and returned the message to the audience himself. The moment was raw, unfiltered, and transcendent, perfectly capturing the song’s meaning of connection, healing, and shared love.
The ending of “Infinite Baths” was a full-circle moment. The song itself is about being cleansed, held, and finally feeling safe after long periods of struggle and isolation. Those “Infinite Baths” are waves of healing and love washing over you. When fans held up “You Are So Loved” signs and Vessel mirrored it back, it wasn’t just a gesture; it was the song brought to life.
That exchange captured exactly what the music promises: being seen, accepted, and surrounded in a shared warmth. It was a moment where the energy of the crowd and the intention of the performance collided, showcasing the band’s ability to turn music into a living, breathing experience.
As the song reached its ending, Vessel, with his guitar, II, and III emerged onto the catwalk, jamming in perfect unison, every note building the intensity and connection. When the final note dropped, Vessel set down his guitar and sank to the floor in a kneeling prostration, elbows resting on the ground, hands cupped in gratitude. It was such an intimate gesture that amplified the emotional weight of the performance, perfectly embodying the song’s themes of healing, surrender, and shared love with the fans.
Cleveland didn’t just witness a show that night. We lived through an emotional reckoning, leaving the arena wrapped in the raw, transformative power of music and healing.